Plan touts Alaska maritime jobs

The state government and others have put together an “Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan.”

The plan is posted at labor.alaska.gov/maritimeplan.

The maritime sector already is a huge job producer in Alaska. Maritime jobs are integral to industries such as seafood, transportation and oil and gas, as well as research.

“However, maritime employers note that the number of Alaskans who have the necessary skills to fill these positions is too low to meet the demand,” the plan says. “An aging or ‘graying’ workforce was identified by many employers.”

The plan identifies strategies to, among other things, develop “career pathways” into maritime occupations. It also lists 23 priority positions.

Representatives of industry, state agencies and the University of Alaska collaborated on the plan. Participants included Kurt Hallier of ConocoPhillips, which has a fleet of oil tankers operating out of Valdez.

- Wesley Loy